GARY DEMPSEY sat on the bench watching in disbelief as Darlington let a 2-0 lead slip to go down to Chesterfield at The Arena.

When the midfielder came off on 68 minutes, Quakers were cruising thanks to a solid all-round showing, and two goals from Tadhg Purcell.

But Chesterfield scored three times in the last 10 minutes to stun Quakers.

“Chesterfield were not in the game,” said Dempsey. “When I came off I thought that if there was going to be another goal it would be us getting a third.

“I was disappointed to be taken off, but we were dominating the game, and I didn’t see any danger. But we gave away a bad first goal and it went from there.

“I feel for Tadhg. After scoring two goals he didn’t deserve that. At 2-0 up that late on you expect to see out the game. But we just have to pick ourselves up.”

Weather permitting the side will get the chance to do that at home to Notts County tomorrow.

Quakers manager Steve Staunton said: “I sent Gary Smith on for Dempsey, as I felt that Gary might give us a bit more mobility. I don’t think that decision had any bearing on the result. It was just one of those things.

“I’m taking the positives. For 80 minutes we were excellent, now we need to do that for a full game. We have made a massive improvement, and have to keep going.”

Purcell struck a first half opener from a tempting low cross from Teessider Nathan Mulligan, and when Purcell rifled home a free-kick early in the second half, Quakers seemed on course for a fourth home win of the season.

They had half chances to stretch the lead, but didn’t look as though they needed another goal, as young Quakers’ keeper Shane Redmond had been called into action only once in 80 minutes.

But then Simon Whaley’s angled drive beat him, and within a couple of minutes Chesterfield were level when Drew Talbot scored with a stunning volley.

When Richie Byrne maked his full debut with an unfortunate own goal, Darlington’s fans and players couldn’t believe what had happened.

And even after that they poured forward and Simon Madden saw his shot brilliantly saved by Spireites keeper Tommy Lee, as promotion chasing Chesterfield won a fifth successive game and left Darlington rooted to the bottom.

But there was so much to lift the fans for almost all of the game. The side has good young players, including Josh Gray, coming through, and Mulligan and Gareth Waite have stepped out of the Northern League and brought an added dimension.

Purcell has already netted five goals since arriving last month, and until the late lapses the defence and midfield were in control.